Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-16
TUESDAY. AUGUST l6. 1885,
Tho Blair Bill IN the North.

We have the highest respect for the
Providence Journal, the leading Re-
publican paper in Rhode Island. 1t is
one Of the most conservative of jour
nails, and holds no opinions for which 1t
cannot furnish reason. 1t is published
in the smallest of the small New Eng
land States, and shows becoming re-
gard for the rights of the States, and a
proper jealousy of the Entertainments
OF the Federal Government upon those
rights. 1t is in fact model partisan
paper, never resorting to abuse OF its
neighbors or its more distant contem-
poraries, but always manfully standing
up for the principles of the Republican
party as it understands them.
Where is the man who would not
accept the Providence journal as the
exponent of the creed of the Republi-
can party in preference to General Ma
HONE No such man is to be found
even in the Republican party, unless it
be a Republican who is a Mahoneite
first, and Republican afterwards.
What says the Providence Journal
as to the Republican party and to the
BLAIR bill? hut, first, what says Cen
eral MALONE? He confesses that the
bill was not a party measure; but he
lays the blame of its defeat in the last
Congress upon the Democratic House
of Representatives., and all that he says
upon the subject was penned with the
purpose of leading the people of Vir-
ginia to believe that as party the Re-
publicans favor the BLAIR bill, whereas
as a party the Democrats oppose it.
We have often given the names Of
the Democrats in the United States
Senate who voted for the BLAIR bill
when the question was upon its passage.
The list includes nearly all the leading
Democrats then in that body.
Now let us hear from the Providence
journal upon this interesting subject.
We quote from its issue Of last Satur-
day. It first demurs to our statement
that the feature of the bill proposing
to distribute the money according to
illiteracy occasions opposition to it in
the North, and then says:
"The opposition in the North to the
Blair bill is based first OF all upon its
unconstitutionality. There is no au-
thoriiy given by the Constitution OF
the United States for any such legisla-
: ton by Congress. 1t is opposed to the
theory Of our institutions i'll two ways.
IL taxes the country for the benefit OF
portion thereof. and il logically car
riod out it gives the National Govern
ment supervision and control over a
matter which is peculiarly within the
right and duty OF the State. 1t so far
annuls the sovereignty Of the State. "
General MALONE arraigns Mr..
TUCKER and other Virginia congress-
men for having raised constitutional
objections to certain bills. Butt seems
that the Republicans of the North can
raise that objection also when the bill
is one that promises to benefit the
South rather than the North.
We quote the Journal again:
"Civing the South so much money
outright is long step in the direction
of that Capitalization of power In the
Federal Government, which the Dis
patch so sorely deplores when the Su.
preme Court of the United States takes
what il deems to be latitudinarlar
course in the construction of the funda
mental law.
And once more:
"The intimation of the Dispotcl
that the opposition to the Blair bill ID
the North Is q purely Republican op
position is as incorrect as Its appre
hension that the opposition will IN
crease rather than diminish in strength
is Individually we'll founded. The sen
t;mept in behalf OF the education OF tn
negro carried away at first more lie
publicans than Democrats in the Nortl
IN acauiescence as to the Blair bill. l
was the sober second thought whic
gave them pause.
But il is the " sober second thought
OF those very northern Republican
upon which General MALONE propose
TO rely TO secure the passage OF tn
BLAIR bill.
The following extract from the JON
mars article surprises and gratiiies u
Surely it is good sign to find leae
ing Republican paper, long Senate
AxrHoSY's organ, intimating that til
Supreme Court does wrong when it a
Ioss . State to be sued as Virginia hs
t,een sued. The Journals words are
"Tho money equation is of the lea
consequence. In consequence OF II
civil war and the changing commercil
exieencies of the country the Const
int,on, aside from its lawful amen,
merts, has been 80 altered from j
original doctrine Is understood by i
trainers by the decisions OF the 81
prtme Court OF the United States tn
Ills not irrelevant TO inquire just wh
xigS.s the States have and what duti'
deyolvs upon them in severalty. Vine
the Constitution permits . State to
sued and authorizes Congress to cut
canal across Illinois for the regulate
OF commerce il il time 10 see il thel
is any anchorage"
Perhaps the Journal will join hant
with US when We propose totry to ha'
The eleventh amendment restored
its place in the Constitution. At Al
rte, il has thekindness and the coural
TO say that II does not consider us :"
al too vieilant, or conservative, or Q
aetipg," in keeping guard over Il
Federal Constitution This BY Il
NY.